Integrated beverage infuser lid

ABSTRACT

An integrated beverage infuser and lid are adapted for use with an insulated drinking vessel for brewing a consumable product, such as tea, in an insulated travel mug, tumbler, or the like. The lid includes a main body adapted for movable receipt on a drinking vessel that forms a downwardly directed, open-ended cavity. A fluid-permeable brewing basket defines an enclosable receptacle for removable receipt of the brewing consumable product. The basket is movable between a stowed position, substantially within the cavity above the liquid level of the hot water in the tumbler, and a deployed position, below and substantially outside of the cavity for submersion in the hot water contained in the drinking vessel. A lever arm forms a part of the transfer mechanism and has a portion that penetrates the main body to the outside thereof so that the transfer mechanism can be operated by an individual without removing the lid from the insulated drinking vessel, tumbler, or the like.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/854,512, filed Sep. 12, 2007, which claims the benefit of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/531,554, filed Sep. 13, 2006.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to removable lids for beverage containers. Morespecifically, the invention relates to lids having means for brewing teaor other consumable products in the beverage container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Thermally insulated beverage containers have become increasingly popularwith the public for use with hot beverages, such as coffee. Containersof this type, frequently referred to as “commuter mugs” or “traveltumblers”, may also be used for cold beverages, such as iced tea. Hotbeverages, such as coffee and tea, impose the most demanding thermalrequirements on such a container. As a result, consumers have come toappreciate that double-walled, vacuum-insulated containers perform thisfunction best. Such containers have sidewalls often manufactured frommetal, particularly stainless steel, to withstand the high mechanicalloading due to atmospheric pressure.

In either case, it is highly desirable to provide a selectively openablelid for the beverage container. The lid performs at least two functions,the first of which is to prevent the beverage from spilling out of thecontainer when the user is not actually drinking the beverage. Thisfeature is particularly important when a hot beverage is in thecontainer so as to prevent the user from becoming burned or scalded ifthe container tips over. As a second function, the lid should providefor drinking the fluid at a constant rate and so as to prevent splashingor dribbling when the beverage is being drunk from the container. Thelids for such containers are therefore typically provided with an openposition for drinking, a closed position for sealing the container, anda third position in which the entire lid can be removed from thebeverage container for cleaning. Lids of this type generally fall intothree categories: twist-type lids, pushbutton-type lids, or so-called“flip lids”. One example of a twist-type lid developed by the assigneeof the present invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. D441,288, issuedon May 1, 2001 to Pillers et al. Examples of pushbutton lids are shownin U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,173, issued Feb. 26, 1980 to Nergard; U.S. Pat.No. 3,964,631, issued Jun. 22, 1976 to Albert; U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,748,issued Jul. 6, 1976 to Albert; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,099,642, issued Jul.11, 1978 to Nergard. With respect to the second type of the lidsdisclosed in these above-identified patents, the user typicallydepresses a button near the rim of the second lid to remove astopper-like device from an aperture in the lid. Releasing the buttonreturns the stopper to its normally closed position. The assignee of thepresent invention has developed an improved pushbutton-type liddisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,964 to Hurlbut et al. The devicedisclosed by Hurlbut et al. uses a unique rocker lever to simultaneouslyboth open and close venting and drinking apertures for one-handedoperation. U.S. Pat. No. D485,759 issued to Janky et al. discloses aflip-type lid having a portion on the top thereof that is pivotallyreceived in a horizontal plane with respect to the generally circularlid configuration. The user merely flips a tab on the lid to expose botha drinking aperture and a venting aperture.

All of the above-described lids are typically received on an insulatedcontainer, either of the steel, double-walled vacuum type, oruninsulated (or foam insulated) plastic double-walled construction bymeans of threads, bayonet mounts, or the like. These prior-art designshave admirably addressed the consumers' needs with respect to insulatedbeverage containers containing hot drinks, such as coffee or tea, orcold drinks, such as iced tea, which have been prepared in advance,poured into the drinking vessel, the lid attached, and the combinationlid and drinking vessel transported by the user to a jobsite, school, orthe like. In particular, the tumbler design when used in conjunctionwith the above-described lids, is well adapted for receipt inconventional drink-well receptacles of cars, trucks, boats, and the likefor travel and commuting.

Nevertheless, changing consumer needs and tastes have exposeddeficiencies with respect to the above prior-art designs. Specifically,consumers are beginning to show concern with respect to their caffeineconsumption and, simultaneously, are becoming attracted to brewedbeverages, such as green and herbal teas. Teas that require brewing canbe premade at home, steeped in a conventional teapot, and then pouredinto the above-described insulated beverage container and lidcombinations. Nevertheless, consumers are drawn to the “on the go”qualities associated with travel tumblers described above and may notprefer to wait at home for an infused beverage, such as tea, to bebrewed prior to transfer to the insulated drinking container. Thus, someconsumers merely place a teabag into their travel tumbler along with hotwater. Within a few minutes, the tea has been appropriately steeped andthe beverage is ready for consumption. However, the prior-art designs donot generally provide any means for either removing the teabag from thecontainer, or removing the teabag from the hot water in the containerwithout opening the lid, a procedure that is difficult, if notimpossible, to perform in a commuting situation, such as driving anautomobile. As a result, consumers typically allow the teabag to remainin the hot water, continuing to infuse the water beyond the recommendedbrewing time. As a result, the tea beverage is overbrewed, bitter, andundrinkable.

The above-described limitations of the prior art are exacerbated withrespect to the highest quality teas and brewed consumable products,which are typically sold in loose form (i.e., not in a premade bag). Theconsumer is expected to load the loose tea or other consumable productinto a metallic brewing basket for immersion into hot water for apredetermined steeping period. The brewing basket must then be removedat the end of the brewing period. Clearly, there is no convenient way touse such a brewing basket with existing insulated tumbler and liddesigns in that there is no place to hang the chain that typicallysuspends the brewing basket within the brewing vessel, nor is itpossible to capture the chain between the tumbler and the removable lidwhile attaching the lid to the beverage tumbler body in a fluid-tightmanner.

Therefore, a need exists for an insulated beverage container and lidcombination that accepts a loose consumable brewing product, such astea, inside the lid and container combination, while allowing the userto control the brewing time, without the necessity of opening thebeverage container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide aremovable lid for an insulated beverage container that can accept aconsumable product to be brewed, such as tea.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a removablelid for receiving a brewable commodity, which achieves the above objectand which also permits the user to control the brewing time of thereceived consumable product, without opening the removable lid andbeverage container combination.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a removablelid capable of receiving a brewable product, which achieves the aboveobjects and which also accepts receipt of either a loose brewableproduct, such as loose tea, or a brewable product such as tea or groundespresso coffee in a sealed, permeable package, such as a teabag, coffeepod, or the like.

The invention achieves the above objects, and other objects andadvantages, which will become apparent from the description thatfollows, by providing an integrated beverage infuser and lid for usewith a drinking vessel having a main body defining a downwardlydirected, open-ended cavity, a fluid-permeable brewing basket forreceipt of a brewable product such as tea, and a transfer mechanism formoving the brewing basket between a stowed position, substantiallywithin the cavity, and a deployed position, below and substantiallyoutside of the cavity, for submersion of the brewing basket in a liquidcontained in the drinking vessel (such as hot water). The transfermechanism preferably includes an actuating lever, knob, or the likeexternal to the main body and manipulable by a user when the lid isreceived on an insulated drinking vessel or container. In this manner,the user can load the brewing basket with a desired consumable product(e.g., looseleaf tea, a teabag, a brewing pod containing coffee or thelike), fill the drinking vessel with hot water, install the lid onto thedrinking vessel, and deploy the brewing basket into the hot water byactuating the external lever or the like. After a suitable brewing timehas passed, the user can then again manipulate the actuating lever orthe like to retract the brewing basket into the stowed position withinthe cavity so as to terminate the brewing process.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the transfer mechanismincludes a lever arm for moving the brewing basket between the stowedposition and the deployed position. The lever arm has a first endthereof pivotally connected to the brewing basket and a second endthereof connected to an axle that passes through a sidewall of the mainbody. A free end of the axle is connected to the actuating lever or thelike. The brewing basket is preferably provided with an edge, distalfrom the first end of the lever arm, forming a fulcrum for reactingagainst an inner side of the main body (i.e., a portion of the main bodythat is internal to the drinking vessel when the lid is received on thedrinking vessel). A geometric relationship between a distance from theaxle to the first end of the lever arm, and the first end of the leverarm to the fulcrum is selected so as to both maximize the deploymentdepth of the brewing basket with respect to the open-ended cavity, andto minimize to an acceptable level the torque applied to the axle and,thus, the external actuating lever or the like. In this manner, themanufacturer may choose from a variety of materials, such as metaland/or polymers, such as thermoplastics, for manufacture of the transfermechanism. The external actuating lever is also preferably provided witha detent mechanism or the like to maintain the lever in a positioncorresponding to the stowed position of the brewing basket within theopen-ended cavity against gravity, which otherwise biases the brewingbasket to the deployed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an integrated beverage infuser and lidfor use with a drinking vessel in accordance with the principles of theinvention, showing the brewing basket in a deployed position.

FIG. 2 is a sectional, side elevational view, taken along line 2-2 ofFIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b are side elevational views of the integrated beverageinfuser and lid showing the brewing basket in both a deployed position,and a retracted or stowed position, respectively. FIG. 3 c is a bottom,left perspective view of the integrated beverage infuser and lid shownin FIGS. 3 a and 3 b with the brewing basket in the stowed position.FIG. 3 d is a top left perspective view of the integrated beverageinfuser and lid in an inverted position, shown with the brewing basketopened for receipt of a consumable brewing product, such as loose tea.

FIGS. 4 a, 4 b, and 4 c are side elevational views of an alternateembodiment of the invention showing the brewing basket with the fulcrumin an alternate location.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An integrated beverage infuser and lid in accordance with the principlesof the invention are generally indicated at reference numeral 10 in thevarious Figures of the attached drawings, wherein numbered elements inthe Figures correspond to like-numbered elements herein.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lid 10 includes a substantiallycylindrical main body 12 having a substantially planar upper portion 14,defining a drinking aperture 16 and a venting aperture 18. The main bodyalso has a substantially annular sidewall, 20 defining a transverse axlebearing or sleeve 22 adjacent the drinking aperture 16. The annularsidewall 20 terminates in a circumferential lip 24, which, together withthe annular sidewall, and planar upper portion defines a downwardlydirected, generally open-ended cavity 26 for removable receipt of aperforated brewing basket 30 in a stowed position substantially withinthe cavity 26, as shown in FIGS. 3 b, 3 c, and 3 d; and a deployedposition, below and substantially outside of the cavity 26, as shown inFIGS. 1, 2, and 3 a.

The main body 12 of the lid 10 is preferably provided with externalthreads 32 on an exterior surface of the annular sidewall 20 such thatthe lid can be received in an insulated tumbler or the like 34, shown inFIGS. 4 a, 4 b, and 4 c. Those of ordinary skill in the art are wellaware of other means for removably securing the lid 10 to the insulatedtumbler 34, such as a bayonet mount, press fit, and the like, any ofwhich is suitable for removably joining the lid to the tumbler in aleakproof, fluid-tight configuration.

The lid 10 is provided with a transfer mechanism generally indicated atreference numeral 40 including an elongated lever arm 44 having a firstend 46 pivotally connected to the brewing basket 30, and a second end 48connected to a transverse axle 50 that is journalled for rotation withinthe axle bearing 22 in the annular sidewall 20 of the main body 12 so asto penetrate the main body and be fixedly attached to an actuating lever52 or the like, which is external to the main body 12. As will beapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, rotating the actuatinglever 52 applies a torque to the axle 50, thus rotating the lever arm 44in either a clockwise fashion, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, so as to deploythe basket 30, or a counterclockwise fashion so as to raise the basketto the stowed position shown in FIGS. 3 c and 4 a. In order to stow thebrewing basket 30 in a substantially nested position shown in FIGS. 3 b,3 c, and 4 a, the brewing basket 30 is provided with a fulcrum 56 on adistal edge of the basket with respect to the transverse axle 50 andfirst end 46 of the lever arm 44 for urging against an interior surfacesuch as circumferential lip 24 of the main body 12. By selecting thelength of the lever arm 44 as long as possible, (i.e., a lever armdistance—the distance defined between the transverse axle 50 and thefirst end 46 of the lever arm 44) and minimizing a fulcrum distance,defined as a distance between the first end 46 and the distal edge orfulcrum 56, the deployment distance of the brewing basket into hot wateror the like contained within the insulating tumbler 34 is maximized.Such a configuration is optimized for brewing as it is desirable toplace the brewing basket as close to the middle of the volume of hotwater as possible. Nevertheless, this geometric configuration maximizesthe torque on the transverse axle 50 and actuating lever 52 in apossibly disadvantageous manner. An example of an alternate embodimentof the invention employing a different configuration using an alternategeometry is shown in FIGS. 4 a through 4 c, in which the fulcrum 56 ofthe brewing basket 30 reacts against a protrusion 58 adjacent the uppersurface portion 14 of the lid 10. In this configuration, it ispreferable to manufacture the lever arm 44 from a sturdy material, suchas stainless steel or a metal wire, as shown in FIG. 2 because of theincreased torque applied to the lever arm.

Conversely, by minimizing the length of the lever arm 44 and maximizingthe fulcrum distance between the first end 46 thereof and the fulcrum56, torque on the axle 50 and actuating lever 52 is minimized.Consequently, the deployment distance will be greatly shortened and theeffectiveness of the infusion process will be hampered. The applicantsherein have discovered that a preferred distance between the lever arm'sfirst end and the axle or axle bearing is approximately twice that ofthe fulcrum distance. In this configuration, the deployment distance ofthe basket is sufficient to provide proper infusion of hot water withinthe tumbler 34, while not placing an excessive torque on the transverseaxle 50 or actuating lever 52. By controlling these parameters, thedesigner may depart from the specific embodiment shown herein withrespect to the particular configuration of the lever arm 44 for thematerials used in connection therewith. By way of example and notlimitation, the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 employs a lever arm 44 in theform of a yoke having two second ends 48, each journalled for rotationwithin the annular sidewall 20 of the main body 12. In this embodiment,the torque is not so great and the geometric structure of the lever arm44 is sufficiently robust so as to permit construction of the lever arm44 from either metal or a polymer material. Conversely, the embodimentsshown in FIGS. 4 a through 4 c are preferably manufactured with either athickened lever arm 44, manufactured from a polymer such asthermoplastic, or a stronger material such as metal, due to therelatively short fulcrum distance between the first end 46 of the leverarm 44 and the fulcrum 56.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 a through 3 d, the brewing basket 30 isperforated throughout its exterior and is generally cylindrical inconfiguration. The brewing basket preferably has a substantially planarceiling 60 connected to a downwardly depending circumferential sidewall62. The basket includes a circular door 64 attached to thecircumferential sidewall by a hinge 66 attached at one edge thereof. Thefulcrum 56 on the distal edge of the basket is preferably a rolled-overportion of the door 64 to provide a circular bearing surface against thecircumferential lip 24, as best seen in FIG. 3 b.

In use, the user would turn the lid 10 upside down as shown in FIG. 3 dand open the basket 30, as shown, to prepare the lid 10 for receipt of aconsumable, brewable product, such as tea, (e.g., loose), a teabag, or acoffee brewing packet. The user would then close the door 66 such thatthe rolled-over portion at the fulcrum 56 will engage a tab 68 in alatching configuration so as to maintain the door 64 in a closedposition. As shown in FIG. 3 c, the user would then invert the entirelid 10 and connect the lid to a tumbler prefilled with hot water asshown in FIG. 4 a. The user would then rotate the actuating lever 52 ina clockwise direction shown in FIG. 4 b to deploy the basket 30 into thehot water contained within the insulated tumbler 34. Upon completion ofan appropriate brewing time, the user would then counterrotate theactuating lever 52 in a counterclockwise direction to the position shownin FIG. 4 a to terminate the brewing process. The main body 12 ispreferably provided with a protrusion or pip 69 receivable in acorresponding detent in the actuating lever to selectively maintain thebrewing basket 30 in the stowed position.

The lid 10 is also preferably provided with an external, articulated cap70 having a drinking aperture plug 72 for sealing the drinking aperture16 when the cap 70 is in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 4 a. Thecap 70 may be positioned as shown in FIGS. 4 b and 4 c to an openposition to allow the user to drink from the drinking aperture 16. Theventing aperture 18 is preferably positioned sufficiently distant fromthe drinking aperture 16 so that the user's lips do not cover the same.In this manner, air pressure within the tumbler will be equalized whenfluid is removed from the drinking aperture 16.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will conceive of other embodiments ofthis invention upon reviewing this disclosure. For example, theactuating lever 52 may be in the form of a knob, dial, or the like,depending on the torque experienced by the transverse axle 50, which isdependent upon the ratio of the lever arm distance to the fulcrumdistance. The materials used in construction of the lid 10 and basket30, while presumably food-grade thermoplastic materials and stainlesssteel, respectively, are within the discretion of those of ordinaryskill in the art. Furthermore, the specific configuration of theexternal, articulated cap 70 forms no part of this invention and issubject to modification by those of ordinary skill in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of this invention. Thus, the invention is notto be limited to the above description, but is to be determined in scopeby the claims that follow.

1. An integrated beverage infuser and lid for use with a drinking vessel, comprising: a main body adapted for removable receipt on the drinking vessel, the main body having an upper portion defining a drinking aperture and a sidewall directed downwardly therefrom defining a downwardly opening cavity; a fluid-permeable brewing basket defining an enclosable receptacle for removable receipt of a consumable brewing product; a transfer mechanism operable to move the brewing basket between a stowed position wherein at least a portion of the brewing basket is disposed within the cavity, and a deployed position wherein the brewing basket is disposed below and outside of the cavity for submerging at least a portion of the brewing basket in a liquid contained in the drinking vessel, the transfer mechanism having a lever arm with a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotally connected to the brewing basket at a pivot point and the brewing basket being free to rotate about the pivot point when moving between the stowed position and the deployed position; and an actuating mechanism operatively connected to the second end of the lever arm of the transfer mechanism to facilitate manual operation of the transfer mechanism to move the brewing basket between the stowed position and the deployed position.
 2. The integrated beverage infuser and lid of claim 1, wherein the brewing basket has first and second ends and a sidewall enclosing the space between the first and second ends of the brewing basket, and when in the stowed position the brewing basket has the first end thereof positioned within the cavity and above the second end thereof, and the first end of the lever arm is connected to the brewing basket toward the first end of the brewing basket at a first location toward one side of the brewing basket and the second end of the lever arm is connected to the actuating mechanism at a second location toward an opposite side of the brewing basket such that when the brewing basket is in the stowed position the lever arm extends above the first end of the brewing basket from the one side thereof to the opposite side thereof.
 3. The integrated beverage infuser and lid of claim 2, wherein the second end of the brewing basket is a lid pivotally connected to the sidewall of the brewing basket, the lid being selectively movable between an open position wherein a consumable brewing product may be positioned within or removed from the brewing basket and a closed position wherein the consumable brewing product may be maintained within the brewing basket when in the stowed position and the deployed position and when moving therebetween.
 4. The integrated beverage infuser and lid of claim 1, wherein the brewing basket has a top side and a lower side, the top side having spaced apart opposing first and second perimeter portions, the first perimeter portion being toward the location of the second end of the lever arm when the brewing basket is in the stowed position and the pivot point being located at the second perimeter portion, and the lower side having an opening sized for receiving and removing the consumable brewing product and a selectively operable lid for closing the opening.
 5. The integrated beverage infuser and lid of claim 1, wherein the brewing basket has first and second end walls and a sidewall enclosing the space between the first and second end walls, the second end wall being an openable lid pivotally connected to the sidewall.
 6. The integrated beverage infuser and lid of claim 1, wherein the brewing basket has first and second end walls and a sidewall enclosing the space between the first and second end walls, and the first end of the lever arm is pivotally connected to the first end wall.
 7. The integrated beverage infuser and lid of claim 6, wherein first end wall is positioned above the second end wall when the brewing basket is in the stowed position.
 8. The integrated beverage infuser and lid of claim 7, wherein when in the stowed position the brewing basket has the first end wall thereof positioned within the cavity and above the second end wall thereof, and the first end of the lever arm is pivotally connected to the first end wall at a first location toward one side of the brewing basket and the second end of the lever arm is connected to the actuating mechanism at a second location toward an opposite side of the brewing basket such that when the brewing basket is in the stowed position the lever arm extends above the first end wall from the one side thereof to the opposite side thereof.
 9. The integrated beverage infuser and lid of claim 1, further including a stopper pivotally connected to the main body to selectively close the drinking aperture.
 10. The integrated beverage infuser and lid of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the main body includes a venting aperture for equalizing pressure within the drinking vessel with ambient pressure when liquid is removed through the drinking aperture.
 11. The integrated beverage infuser and lid of claim 1, wherein the main body is threadably connectable to the drinking vessel.
 12. A single serving drinking container assembly, comprising: a single serving drinking vessel; and an integrated beverage infuser and lid for use with the single serving drinking vessel, comprising: a main body adapted for removable receipt on the single serving drinking vessel, the main body having an upper portion defining a drinking aperture and a sidewall directed downwardly therefrom defining an open-ended cavity; a fluid-permeable brewing basket defining an enclosable receptacle for removable receipt of a consumable brewing product; a lever arm having a first end portion and a second end portion, the lever arm being rotatable to move the brewing basket between a stowed position wherein at least a portion of the brewing basket is disposed within the cavity, and a deployed position wherein the brewing basket is disposed below and outside of the cavity for submerging at least a portion of the brewing basket in a liquid contained in the drinking vessel, the first end portion being pivotally connected to the brewing basket at a first pivot point and the brewing basket being freely rotatable about the first pivot point when moving between the stowed position and the deployed position; and a manually operable actuating member operatively connected to the second end portion of the lever arm and movably mounted to the main body for selective manual rotation of the second end portion of the lever arm about the second point in a first direction to selectively rotate the lever arm in a first rotational direction to move the first end portion of the lever arm upward and thereby move the brewing basket into the stowed position and selectively rotate the lever arm in an opposite second rotational direction to move the first end portion of the lever arm downward and thereby move the brewing basket into the deployed position.
 13. The single serving drinking container assembly of claim 12, wherein the brewing basket has first and second end walls and a sidewall enclosing the space between the first and second end walls, and when in the stowed position the brewing basket has the first end wall positioned within the cavity and above the second end wall, and the first end portion of the lever arm is pivotally connected to the brewing basket toward the first end wall at a first location toward one side of the brewing basket and the second end portion of the lever arm is connected to the actuating member at a second location toward an opposite side of the brewing basket such that when the brewing basket is in the stowed position the lever arm extends above the first end wall from toward one side of the brewing basket to toward the opposite side of the brewing basket.
 14. The single serving drinking container assembly of claim 13, wherein the first end portion of the lever arm is pivotally connected to the first end.
 15. The single serving drinking container assembly of claim 13, wherein the second end wall is an openable lid pivotally connected to the sidewall.
 16. An integrated beverage infuser and lid for use with a drinking vessel, comprising: a main body adapted for removable receipt on the drinking vessel, the main body having an upper portion defining a drinking aperture and a sidewall directed downwardly therefrom defining a downwardly opening cavity; a fluid-permeable brewing basket defining an enclosable receptacle for removable receipt of a consumable brewing product; transfer means for moving the brewing basket between a stowed position wherein at least a portion of the brewing basket is disposed within the cavity, and a deployed position wherein the brewing basket is disposed below and outside of the cavity for submerging at least a portion of the brewing basket in a liquid contained in the drinking vessel; and actuating means for selectively applying drive force to the transfer means to cause the transfer means to move the brewing basket between the stowed position and the deployed.
 17. The integrated beverage infuser and lid of claim 16, wherein the transfer means is a lever arm having a first end portion and a second end portion, the lever arm being rotatable to move the brewing basket between the stowed position and the deployed position.
 18. The integrated beverage infuser and lid of claim 17, wherein the brewing basket has first and second end walls and a sidewall enclosing the space between the first and second end walls, and when in the stowed position the brewing basket has the first end wall positioned within the cavity and above the second end wall, and the first end portion of the lever arm is pivotally connected to the brewing basket toward the first end wall at a first location toward one side of the brewing basket and the second end portion of the lever arm is connected to the actuating means at a second location toward an opposite side of the brewing basket such that when the brewing basket is in the stowed position the lever arm extends above the first end wall from toward one side of the brewing basket to toward the opposite side of the brewing basket.
 19. The integrated beverage infuser and lid of claim 16, wherein the second end wall is an openable lid pivotally connected to the sidewall. 